If you're like most Canadians, your home is probably your most important investment. It's also the place where you and your family tend to spend a great deal of time. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can help you protect that investment for years to come, and help keep your home - and your family - healthy, safe and sound all year round. This spring, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has a short checklist of simple inspections and repairs that can help you put a stop to the most common and costly problems before they occur, in as little as a few minutes a week, including:

- Check your furnace, air exchanger and air conditioner filters, and
clean or replace them if needed.
- Check and clean your range hood filters on a monthly basis.
- Make sure all indoor and outdoor air vents (intake, exhaust and forced
air) are clear of snow and debris.
- From the ground or any overlooking windows, check your roof for missing
or damaged shingles. Have any damaged ones repaired.
- Check the condition of caulking around windows and doors. Replace as
necessary.
- Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets each
month by pushing the test button, which should cause the reset button
to pop up.
- Consult your hot water tank owner's manual and follow its
recommendations for testing the temperature and pressure relief valve
to ensure it isn't stuck. If you are unsure, consult a plumber.
- Shut down and clean the furnace humidifier, and close the furnace
humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.
- Have your fireplace or woodstove and chimney cleaned and serviced as
needed.
- Clear all drainage ditches and culverts of debris.
- Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace their
batteries.
- Clean all windows, screens and window hardware. Repair any holes in
screens or replace them if necessary.
- Open the valve to the outside hose connection once any danger of frost
has passed.
- Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture,
and repair them if required.
- Repair and paint fences as needed.
- Make sure your sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw
sets in, and ensure the discharge pipe allows water to drain away from
the foundation.
- Re-level any exterior steps or decks which may have moved due to frost
or settling.
- Clean any debris from eavestroughs and downspouts, reattach any
sections that are loose, and make sure they are securely attached to
your home and that the flow of water discharges away from your
foundation.
- Have well water tested for quality, and test for bacteria every six
months.
- Carry out any spring landscaping and, if necessary, fertilize young
trees.

For more information or a free copy of the "About Your House" fact sheet
Home Maintenance Schedule and other fact sheets on owning, maintaining or
renovating your home, visit our Web site at www.cmhc.ca.